Review: Extraordinary Jane by Hannah E. Harrison

Jane lived in an extraordinary world at the circus, but she was just an ordinary dog. Her mother could do tricks on the back of horses. Her father could lift an elephant. Her brothers got shot out of cannons and her sisters performed on the high wire. But Jane didn’t do any of that. She tried to find her own special talent, but nothing seemed to work. She even managed to cause some disasters along the way. Jane was just ordinary, but in her own quiet way she was very special too.

Harrison has created a quiet heroine in her picture book. This book will speak to dog lovers but also to children who feel that they don’t live up to their older siblings. It is a story that celebrates kindness, supportiveness and just being yourself whether that is loud or quiet, flashy or subtle. The setting of a circus was an inspired choice, offering the most contrast between a regular dog and the daredevil family she has.

Harrison’s art is wonderfully detailed. She offers spreads of the entire circus and its three rings filled with action. The dogs fur is shown in individual hairs, the wrinkles on the elephants are striking, and the perspectives are engagingly diverse.

For all of the quiet stars out there, this amazing dog will be inspiring for them to just be themselves. Appropriate for ages 3-5.